Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-09-15

therefore was only obeyed in part
supper was served, but Lackinsky re-.
manned in his cell.
The following morning C-astanos
who had mis- own reasons for WISHING
to be favorably reported TO the Rms
sian government, visited his prisoner
ana told him not be discouraged,
adalng dn assurance that his de.
tention would soon end. At the same
time, taking the youth kindly by the
hand, he assured him, with a smile.
thet there was nothing further 10
fear. W
Though inwardly rejoicing. while
listening to the encouraging words
Lackinsky appeared to comprehend
nothing but the gentle tone and the
friendly pressure of the hand.
Later, he was led to a spot where
ten French prisoners OF war had inst
been shot. There, in the presence ~
the CHASTITY, bleeding corpses. he vas
forced to remain until night. Prison
was a reiiet compared with
sueh q cruel spectacle, vet.
IN spite OF the generals reassurins re.
marks, he could not obtain the re.
pose OF which he was by this time
sorely in need. The fate OF his com.
panions IN arms, which he fully ex.
pected to share, haunted him con.
tlnuaily, until sleep overcame him aft.
err several hours of weary watchir o
and tossing on his hard bed of straw
As before, a woman gently aroused
HIM and spoke in the same low tone
IN French, "Come quickly; | will
save you; your horse is saddled.
ev~erythingi is ready; follow me softly,
softly"
The young lieutenant's senses were
immediately on the alert; his suspi.
cion was fully aroused and he was
not to be taken unawares. "What
was It you said2" he quietly asked in
German. 81 did not understand; can
you not speak to me in my native
tonguef The woman Immediately
vanished.
On hearing of this incident. Casta.
nos again spoke in behalf OF ms pris.
oneri but the assertion made so con.
hdentiy by the peasant had worked
upon the minds OF the guerrillas to
such q degree that they refused to bs
convinced until they had made one
more trial. 1t. was therefore agreed
that Lackinsky should remain IN
captivity another night.
Five guerrillas entered the vault on
the following morning, uttering furious
threats against the French, accom-.
panied by maledietions on the head
OF Napoleon. They spoke in Spanish,
OF which Lackinsky understood quite
enough to know what they were say.
Ing, but be assumed an air OF uncon.
Germ and looked from one to another
as though wondering what could be
the cause OF their excitement. After
being informed that he was to have
another trial. he was led TO the chapel
where, ranged along the steps OF the
altar, he beheld adozen guerrilla chiefs
who had constituted themselves a
council of war. With q show OF sud.
denly understanding that he was to
undergo an examination, the young
lieutenant demanded an interpreter.
A soldier who spoke German was
sent for and the trial proceeded.
What is the object of your Journey
from Madrid to Lisbon?" was the first
question.
Being an officer of the Cars
guard, " answered Lackinsky, II have
been intrusted with important dis.
patches from Baron Strosanoff to
Admiral Siniarin."
"Ask him il he is a friend to SPAIN
said one OF the judges to the interpre.
ter.
''Indeed / ami replied the Pole.
ruhas, fha rt,Aofs>,N -r,. ,rt.1l L. -.
German; 81 honor and esteem the
Spanish nation, and would be delight.
ed if they would consent to form an
alliance with my country"
Turning toward the council the in,
terpreter said in French: 1.-THE pris.
oner declares that he is q Russian,
and he adds that his sovereign is a
firm friend and ally OF Napoleon. He
also says that he despises Spain, and
that he considers her soldiers a band
of robbers and cut-throats who ought
to be wiped from the face of the earth"
This was themost terrible ordeal the
yonrg man had vet undergone, but he
did not betray, by the movement
what was said. He seemed
merely to be wondering what could sc
suddenly have aroused the council,
who watched him narrowly while Civ
ing vent to angry threats. They well
knew that nothing would he so likely
to put the prisoner off his guard as
the apparent treachery OF the inter.
prefer.
Comrades. said Castanos, who enter
ed the chapel at the conclusion of the
interpreters remarks, ARE you con.
WINGED at last; and will you o per
NIT this dispatch-b bearer to proceedy
The guerrillas answered with ont
voice, and so egar were they to make
amends for what they considered
their error, that within n houi
Lackinsky's horse, papers, and weap
ons were restored, and he was far or
the road to Lisbon rejoicing at his
escape.-Translated for the sar
Francisco Argonaut from the Germen